HATTIESBURG — For the third time in three weeks, a new favorite seems to have emerged in Conference USA's western division.

With a 28-7 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday, UAB improved to 4-1 on the year and 2-0 in conference play, listing the Blazers among the five teams yet to be defeated in C-USA competition. Just one week removed from upsetting North Texas, the loss was a step back for Louisiana Tech and now signifies that the road to the C-USA championship game runs through Birmingham rather than Denton or Ruston.

Over in the east, Middle Tennessee continued its string of recent success, knocking off Marshall to position itself as the top contender in what has appeared to be the conference's weaker division this season. Middle Tennessee is 3-2 on the year, but both of its losses have come against SEC squads.

Follow below for this week's Conference USA power rankings:

1. UAB (4-1, 2-0 C-USA, Last week: No. 7)

UAB makes a big jump this week, in large part because of its win over Louisiana Tech. But that's not all the Blazers are doing well. UAB leads Conference USA in scoring defense, passing defense and rushing offense. In other words, UAB controls the ball, gets a lead and doesn't let other teams claw back through the air. That's a good recipe for success.

2. North Texas (5-1, 1-1 C-USA, Last week: No. 2)

North Texas didn't whoop UTEP the way it should've this week. But Mason Fine and Co. still sport the best offense in the league, and the best record. The Mean Green return home this Saturday for a matchup against Southern Miss, one that could prove pivotal in the loaded C-USA West.

3. Middle Tennessee State (3-2, 2-0 C-USA, Last week: No. 5)

If there's one team in the league that deserves a strength of schedule crown so far, it might be Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders fought to losses against Georgia and Vanderbilt and knocked off FAU and Marshall for their two league wins, jumping out to their first 2-0 C-USA start since 2016.

4. Louisiana Tech (3-2, 1-1 C-USA, Last week: No. 1)

The Bulldogs take a bit of a tumble this week after losing to UAB. But all hope isn't yet lost. Sure, Louisiana Tech needs UAB to lose twice (or technically once to North Texas) for a shot at the C-USA championship. But Tech's schedule slows down a little bit in October before a busy November, giving the Bulldogs some time to regain rhythm.

5. Southern Miss (2-2, 1-0 C-USA, Last week: No. 4)

The Golden Eagles were on bye last week and moved down by virtue of nothing other than being idle. It's been a stop-and-go season for USM with two bye weeks, a game cancellation and a three-hour weather delay. But now Southern Miss has a trip to North Texas ahead and could jump right back into the conversation among the best teams in the league with a win.

6. FAU (3-3, 1-1 C-USA, Last week: No. 6)

FAU seemed to stabilize itself this week with a 52-33 win over Old Dominion. This was the Owls' first 50-point game of 2018 after reaching the mark four times in 2017. Running back Devin Singletary leads the nation with 14 rushing touchdowns and is one of 24 FBS running backs averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game.

7. FIU (3-2, 1-0 C-USA, Last week: No. 8)

The Panthers took a bye as well this week, priming for a big-time home game this Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. FIU is averaging 38.2 points per game this season, second only to North Texas among C-USA teams.

8. Marshall (3-2, 1-1 C-USA, Last week: No. 3)

Marshall couldn't carry over the success from its win over Western Kentucky into its matchup against MTSU last Friday, falling 34-24. Next up for the Thundering Herd? A road trip to face off against Old Dominion.

9. UTSA (3-3, 2-0 C-USA, Last week: No. 9)

No team has bounced back from a rough start quite as well as UTSA has this year, winning three in a row after an 0-3 debut to 2018. Of course, those three wins are against three of the 10 worst teams in college football. But the Roadrunners will have a chance to prove they can beat a more competitive team on Saturday with a matchup against Louisiana Tech.

10. Western Kentucky (1-4, 0-1 C-USA, Last week: No. 11)

Nothing doing for Western Kentucky during its bye last week. The Hilltoppers get a chance to knock the donut out of its conference win column Saturday when they face off against Charlotte.

11. Old Dominion (1-5, 0-3 C-USA, Last week: No. 10)

Unfortunately, the real Old Dominion looks like it's back. The offense is looking good, averaging 39 points per game the last three weeks. But the defense has been putrid, letting up 41 points per game over the same span. Luckily for the Monarchs, they return home this weekend for the first time since their upset win over Virginia Tech.

12. Charlotte (2-3, 1-1 C-USA, Last week: No. 12)

Charlotte didn't play last week, so it didn't have a chance to climb out of the bottom three. It has a realistic chance of doing so this weekend, though, when the 49ers host Western Kentucky.

13. UTEP (0-5, 0-2 C-USA, Last week: No. 14)

Play North Texas to a one-score deficit? That's enough to lift the Miners out of the bottom of the shaft for at least one week. Perhaps more importantly, UTEP doesn't have the worst scoring offense in college football anymore. It's tied with Rutgers. Now two teams share the unwanted distinction.

14. Rice (1-5, 0-2 C-USA, Last week: No. 13)

Things aren't getting easier for Rice after a 17-point loss against UTSA. The Owls have lost five in a row, losing by an average margin of 19.8 points per game. They rank No. 110 in scoring offense and No. 118 in scoring defense. And things don't get easier this week. Rice has to play UAB on Saturday.